Abstract:
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On the night from 1st to 2nd of November 2008, a multi-cell storm coming from the
Mediterranean produced severe weather in the coastal area of Catalonia (NE Spain): groundlevel
strong damaging wind gusts, a tornado – which caused F2 damage – and heavy rainfall. A
general overview of the synoptic framework, damage observed and a radar analysis is given in
the first part of the study. This second part is mostly centered on the detailed analysis of the
total lightning behavior, its relationship with radar-derived storm parameters, and total
lightning correlation with hazardous weather. The purpose is to bring more evidence about the
outstanding role of total lightning in severe weather surveillance tasks. The analysis of the
storm cells life cycle has showed similar trends between the total lighting flash rates and radarderived
parameters like the area of reflectivity above 30 dBZ at 7-km. Regarding lightning
trends, a lightning “jump” pattern – an abrupt increase of the total lightning rate in a short
period of time – has been related to severe weather. On the contrary, cloud-to-ground lightning
data did not show any pattern related to severe weather. In comparison to other parameters,
like the IC:CG ratio, the lightning “jump” pattern seems more robust to forecast in a short-term
basis the possible occurrence of severe weather. |